n

n

nAvalon, in the form of armguard, separated from Wallace and turned itself to a floating metal ball with red light like an eye as it made its report.

n 1 minute after losing the connection to the mainframe, Avalon Main immediately traced our last location.

n8 minutes: It completed the investigation about the strength of Cloud Hawk Manor.

nResults of Investigation:

nBattle Mage: 30

nAdept Mage: 10

nMana Pulse Barrier (Modified): 5

nHeavy Auto Turrets: 20

nMinigun Turrets: 25

nRocket Turrets: 10

nElemental Turrets: 10

n10 minutes: Electronic and wireless communication coming in and out of the manor were fully controlled.

n11 minutes: Five Elysiums bringing untested Positron Blaster Gun were prepared to sortie.

n13 minutes: Hacking of all Automated Turrets at a 19% completion rate.

n14 minutes: Reconnection to the mainframe was established.

n''Only 14 minutes had passed, huh... You're very efficient, Avalon.

" Wallace was satisfied with the quick action of the artificial intelligence. Luckily, after he went out of that room, Avalon immediately halted it's rescue operation.

n Avalon wasn't only made for information control and guide but can be used as a battle adviser and life-support for its user.

n

"Mhm... I know that much. Thank you.

"

nWallace smiled as he replied. Although Avalon doesn't have emotion and could only follow instructions, it is capable of holding a conversation and he wanted to treat his A.I. as a friend. After all, it's one of the important things he has that connects him to his previous life and the outer space.

nAfter reaching this thought, he opened the box given by Clyne containing materials related to his apprenticeship.

nThere, he found stacked printed documents and things. He picked up the papers and read the title.

n

"Flyby Space Mission?

" It was a new word for Wallace so he asked Avalon to explain it to him.

n

"Urgh... I thought that they've already advanced more than this. But thinking about it, this should be normal at this stage.

"

nAs Avalon explained, space mission had four different stages, it was called flyby at the first stage, orbiter at the second stage, rover, and human space exploration for the third and fourth stage.

nThe documents were as thick as four books so he used the A.I.'s scanner to have a softcopy instead and have Avalon review it for him. Of course, he was still planning to read it for himself. Anyway, he was also instructed by Clyne to destroy this copy once he finished reading it.

nWallace spend an hour to review the document and learned a lot.

nThe space mission was spearheaded indeed by Skywalker Alliance and spent a huge sum or money to successfully build a small spacecraft.

nA flyby space mission is where a spacecraft was being sent to outer space to gather information about the solar system. It passes by a celestial object but isn't held in orbit by it. As the spacecraft passes by, it uses its instruments to observe its target and it sends the information it collects back to this planet. So, this is like a private eye zooming past a house to take a few pictures to scope out the place they're going to spy on later in more detail. But this spacecraft doesn't stop, nor does it circle around; it just keeps going past the target.

nThey called the spacecraft Pioneer 100 and Wallace read the document as he learned their struggle of getting out of the stratosphere. They spent a huge amount of power to break through an invisible force that was covering the planet. It seems that there's a natural force prohibiting them to commence space exploration.

nThis made Wallace confuse as there seems to be no problem in descending to this planet. At the very least, the problem that he encountered before was that no one was answering the communication signals he was sending to this world. And it seems that this was also the problem of Pioneer 100.

nWallace kept himself from going deeper into this topic for now as it would be managed by Avalon anyway. He just had to slowly build his foundation and he'll get there soon.

nAfter putting aside the document and burned by the floating metal ball after copying everything, he checked the other contents of the box.

nA silver emblem depicting a flying hawk above the clouds was included as a token of his identity. There's also a single purple memory crystal in a glass bottle. It doesn't have any introduction whatsoever but Slaine already hinted him about its content a while ago before he asked his two questions to him.

nThere's also a blue apprentice robe for him and lastly, a silver card.

nHe checked the card and written on it was his name and string of numbers embedded with magic. It is connected to a bank.

nHe wasn't sure if it was empty or if there's an amount inside so he just left it for now.

nThere's nothing else that he can do tonight as he would normally busy himself in his workshop during this time. But because he was out of his workshop, he was feeling a bit restless.

nHe can only try to practice the Lightning Break before he falls asleep in exhaustion.

n***

nAs the morning came, he confirmed that he was truly free to do whatever he wanted as long as he will continue to learn the Lightning Break so he can take out his Iron Knight and follow his Master's principles.

nAlthough there's no time limit, it would be best to put a good use at the Iron Knight so he was planning to learn the 2nd level of AOTL as soon as possible.

nFor now, he found the head butler and chatted with him a bit.

n

"Clyne, where is Master Slaine?

"

n

"He already left to prepare for his expedition.

"

n

"Mhm... So, you'll manage this manor? Does he have a family?

"

n

"In the meantime, yes. But Ma'am Lacus would visit here to help the Manor on its operation. For his family, I haven't heard of them.

"

n

"I see. By the way, how come only senior Lacus had her name around the crafting industry. I mean, I haven't found records of L, Farah, and Clark registering their Mana Artifacts after they studied under Sir Slaine?

"

nWallace had already consumed the purple memory crystal so he was aware just how helpful it is to one's ability in crafting. He actually believed that anyone would benefit and improve themselves after consuming that crystal.

n

"Mhm... I may not be correct but as I've understood, they were trying to perfect the AOTL first before putting their creations in public and getting their names famous. They have tons of money at the moment so they may not think it was necessary to have their creations be sold off to people.

"

n

"I see. If ever they will create a mana artifact, they wanted to make sure they'll create the best, huh. Right, Sir Clyne, I recalled that a qualification required for accepting an apprentice was having knowledge in Holm's Version of Artifact Forging Device. But there's a new forging method, right? Why was it required?

"

n

"That? Well, it's still important to learn how to use those kinds of devices. You can't always depend on your Spirit Forging Magic to create some things, you'll understand it soon if you repeatedly use that forging magic...

"

n

"I understand... Thank you for your time, sir Clyne.

"

n

"Mhm... You can just call me Clyne, Sir Wallace. Oh right, you will be a third-year student this coming semester, correct?

"

n

"Yes, Clyne. Will there be a problem?

"

n

"No, not really. If you want, we can make arrangements to transfer you to an academy here in the capital. Are you interested?

"

nWallace shook his head as he explained about his businesses to earn money.

n***

nA couple of days had quickly passed as Wallace came to the New Era's Magic Shop at the southern part of Dolu City wearing normal clothes to join the auction. It doesn't look like he'll attend the auction at all.

nHe was currently outside the large building and waiting for Tristan to pick him up.

nThere's a huge crowd outside the building as luxurious vehicles parked around the venue.

nIt didn't take long after he notified Tristan that he was waiting outside before he met with his group.

nTristan was accompanied by two Battle Mage bodyguards wearing black suits together with his beautiful sister in a sleeveless red dress.

n

"Vanessa White...

" Wallace murmured. Its been a while since he met the lady and she was as beautiful as always with her long black hair that had grown a bit longer after a few months of not trimming it.

nThe identity of the two siblings was not a secret to the public so the huge crowd outside waiting to get inside the building had easily noticed their presence.

n

"Isn't she the sole daughter of the Head of the White Clan?

"

n

"That girl is truly beautiful...

"

n

"She looks like an angel, I hope I could have a daughter like her.

"

n

"Intelligent and successful in her career even though she just graduated at the academy.

"

n

"Who is that guy?

"

n

"Guh... Although he looks pretty, his clothes were pathetic.

"

n

"Look at his face, he's definitely thinking something inappropriate... Tsk!

"

nMurmurs or buzzing noises can be heard as their group approached Wallace.

n

"We meet again. I heard you were now Sir Slaine's fifth apprentice. Congratulations.

" Vanessa's words weren't loud but it was heard by almost everyone outside the building.

n